Wind type musical instrument



Feb. 7, 1939. E J- FITCHHORN .2,146,179

WIND TYPE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May l5, 193'? Patented Feb. 7, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND TYPE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Elver J.Fitchhorn, Delaware, Ohio Application May 15, 1937, Serial No. 142,856 aclaims (ci. :a4-lass) This invention relates to musical instruments and,more particularly, to instruments of the wind type such as the iiute,iiageolet or clarinet, the object of the invention being to provide asimple inexpensive musical instrument of the type indicated which isparticularly adapted for use by children, or others, desiring orcommencing instruction in the use o1' musical instruments and reading ofsimple musical scores.

For a further understanding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the musical instrument comprising thepresent invention;

Fig. 21s a vertical sectional view taken through the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the mouthpiece;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the under side of the mouth piece.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates thetubular body of the improved musical instrument comprising the presentinvention. This body is preferably formed from non-corrosive metallictubing, terminating at its lower or outer end in an outwardly flaringenlargement constituting a bellshaped mouth 2. Intermediately of itslength and on one side thereof, the body I is provided with a pluralityof longitudinally aligned relatively spaced openings 3 of varyingdiameters, which openings may be opened or closed by the fingers of theplayer to control the internal resonance of the body in producingmusical notes of different audible values.

On the opposite or under side of the body I with respect to the openings3 and arranged adjacent to the mouth 2, is a single tone regulatingopening 4. Also, on the under side of the body, there is formed astationary thumb-receiving clip 5, which serves in effecting theconvenient support of the instrument when it is being played so that thefingers are relieved of the task of supporting the instrument and may beused substantially solely for regulating the opening and closing oi' theopenings 3. On the upper side of the body I and immediately below thelowermost 0 of the openings 3 is a socket 6 adapted for the reception ofa removable lyre used in the support of music scores. i

An important feature of the present invention resides in the use andconstruction of the mouth u piece shown at 'I which is carried by theupper or to be sharp in its lower notes and fiat in its upper inner endof the body I. Preferably, this mouth piece is formed from a moldedcomposition material and comprises a hollow member which ls frictionallytted on the upper end of the body I. At its upper end, the mouth piece ltapers to 5 a substantially :dat rectangular form so that it may beconveniently received between the lips of the player. Internally, thesaid mouth piece is formed to include a centrally disposed bailie 8,which is spaced from the under wall 9 of the 10 mouth piece to providean air passage III, through which the breath of the player may be blown,the lower end of the air passage terminating in a restricted region II,carefully proportioned to provide for the desired velocity of travel ofthe 15 players breath forced through the passage I0 into `the resonatingchamber I2 of the mouth piece and across an air outlet slot I3. Thelatter is formed in the under wall 9 of the mouth piece, and providesfor the exit of a portion of the air o blown into the resonating chamberI2 through the air passage IIJ. The upper end of the resonating chamberI2 terminates in a reduced region I4 disposed between the baille 8 andthe curved top wall I5 of the mouth piece. 25

By virtue of this construction, the instrument whenplayed possessesperfect octave intervals of the G scale, which intervals are entirely intune, thereby contrasting with the well-known ilageolet which is tunedto the D scale and tends 30 register. In the playing of the instrumentcomprising the present invention, the same is operated by over-blowingand no special lip or mouth technique is required on the part of theplayer, the various notes being produced by finger control of theopenings 3. A large part of the clear, soft flute-like tone of thepresent instrument is derived from the construction of the resonatingchamber I2 of the mouth piece, the construction 40 of which makespossible the G" scale response of the instrument. So far as I am aware,the instrument comprising the present invention is the rst of its typeproviding for the G scale response. Such response is particularlyadaptable for children, since G" scale notes fall within the staff andare natural to a childs voice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flute-like musical instrument, a mouth piece comprising a bodyhaving a resonating chamber provided therein, said body being formed atits lower end for the reception of the upper end of the instrument andhaving an air outlet at one side thereof, an air receiving passageextending into said mouth piece from the upper end and terminatingadjacent to said air outlet in an elongated restricted slot, theresonating chamber extending a substantial distance beyond the inner endof said air receiving passage.

2. In a ute-like musical instrument, a mouth piece comprising a bodyhaving a resonating chamber provided therein, said body being formed atits lower end for the reception of the upper end of the instrument andhaving an air outlet at one side thereof, an air admitting passageextending into said mouth piece from the upper end andterminatingadjacent to said air outlet in an elongated restricted slot,the resonating chamber extending upwardly into said mouth piece asubstantial distance beyond the inner end of said air admitting passage,and a partition dividing the portion .of the resonating chamber abovethe inner end of said air admitting passage into a plurality ofcompartments.

3. In a flute-like musical instrument, a mouth piece comprising a hollowbody formed at its lower end for the reception of the upper end of theinstrument and having at least one fiat side in which is provided anopening, a baie wall formed in said body and extending substantiallyparallel to the at side, said wall being spaced from said flat sidetoprovide .an air admitting passage open at its upper end to theatmosphere and terminating at its lower end in a restricted slotdisposed adjacent the opening in said at side, said baille wall alsobeing spaced from the side of the body opposite said at side to providea resonating Achamber extension above said air inlet slot.

ELVER J. FITCHHORN.

